1943 Japan Publishing Distribution Co. Map of the WWII Pacific Theater

This is a rare 1943 (Showa 18) large format Japanese map of the Pacific, North and South America, and East Asia. Issued at the height of World War II, this map highlights the significance of Hawaii to the Japanese Pacific strategy - as a nexus for all traffic, military and otherwise, between Asia and America. Japanese claimed territories, in this case Korea, Japan, parts of Sakhalin, Taiwan, parts of Malaysia, and Micronesia are highlighted in red. Those areas under the Japanese sphere of influence, including Manchuria, China, Burma, and Cambodia are outlined in red. Also highlighted are the Japanese Kuril Islands and several Aleutian Islands where Japanese air based had been constructed in anticipation of action against the United States. A stamp in the upper left underscores that his map is approved by the Imperial Japanese authorities.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by the Japan Publishing Distribution Co., Ltd. (日本出版配給株式會社) in January of 1943. We have been unable to trance another example.